Self Care:Getting Back to Basics

Let’s get back to basics with our self care. What do we think self care is? Many think of self-care as activities like taking a bath, enjoying a facemask or getting a massage. Whilst that can be true, self care is essentially anything that takes care of you and refills your cup to overflowing. It’s the overflow that we can then use to give to others. In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to prioritize others over ourselves.

However, constantly giving to others from an empty or half-empty cup without taking time for yourself leads to burnout. By prioritising our own well-being and filling our own cup, we are able to be more productive and supportive to others.  It's crucial to remember that taking care of ourselves is not selfish, it’s necessary.

It's time to get back to basics and shift our mindset towards self-care.

So how do we change our mindset from feeling it’s selfish to give to ourselves first? My clients often say that they feel more capable of giving to others when their cups are full, as they don't feel run down. Our sessions help improve relationships which reduces stress and allows less time for overthinking. Overthinking lessens quickly in our sessions due to conscious thinking. Conscious thinking leads to better self-awareness and understanding boundaries, resulting in increased certainty in decision-making.

Ensuring regular self-care by incorporating self-care practices such as engaging in activities that bring joy and fulfillment, enhances their ability to give to others. What's even better is that these activities can be enjoyed with other people too! If facemasks are your thing, that's great! However, self-care can manifest in many forms, such as taking a leisurely walk, immersing yourself in a book, or listening to music. I have a friend who goes to live gigs and concerts and bounces around dancing as part of her self-care!

What kind of self-care works for you?

The biggest change to make is how you talk to yourself. Self-confidence is crucial for our mental health. Our brains absorb what we hear, and feeding ourselves with negativity and doubt will lead to negative emotions and low self-esteem. Simple techniques such as affirmations and gratitude can help boost self-confidence which is why I include them in this group.

Although affirmations may feel funny at first, because perhaps you are saying something that you do not yet feel, stick with them as only you need to hear them. And yes, it can feel strange because your brain is accustomed to hearing self-doubt. Suddenly, you're speaking positively about yourself, and it may take some getting used to! So stick with it and do not get discouraged. Think of it like learning to play the piano - you don't become a concert pianist overnight. It takes practice and repetition to build up your skills and abilities.

Similarly, affirmations require consistent use to retrain your brain and change your mindset. For the past 2 years, I have been consistently practicing positive self-talk which has greatly reduced my occasional wobbles and moments of self-doubt. I am now skilled at quickly shifting away from these wobbles, preventing them from taking hold.

What affirmation would you say to yourself?

The other technique I talk about is the virtue of gratitude. Expressing gratitude is considered one of the most positive and uplifting emotions for humans, as it generates a high vibrational frequency. Our emotions emit energetic vibrations that have the power to attract similar vibrations back to us. So, if you find yourself in a state of negative vibration, chances are that you will draw in negative individuals and circumstances. This, in turn, can intensify your negative feelings, creating a cycle of negativity until you say "Stop, I want to get off." Once that decision is made, you can alter your thought processes step-by-step to generate higher vibrations. Looking for things to be grateful for is a fabulous way to raise your vibration.

As I mentioned with affirmations, expressing gratitude may seem challenging initially. However, you can start by appreciating simple things like the food you eat, the bed you sleep in, and the water you wash with. These little blessings in our lives are often overlooked and taken for granted, yet there are those who are less fortunate and do not have access to these basic necessities so they are amazing things to be thankful for. By practicing gratitude, we can cultivate a positive mindset and attract more abundance into our lives. I am endlessly grateful for my hot cup of decaf coffee in the morning that perks me up, even without the caffeine!

What are you grateful for?

Self-care is an essential aspect of our lives that is often overlooked. Self-care is anything that takes care of you and refills your cup to overflowing, allowing you to give to others. Self-care is whatever you need to fill your cup, be it reading, journalling, dancing, listening to music or taking the time to enjoy your morning coffee. Incorporating self-care practices enhance our ability to give to others while still taking care of ourselves.

We have learnt that techniques such as affirmations and gratitude can help boost self-confidence and generate higher vibrational frequencies, attracting more abundance into our lives. It's time to change our mindset from feeling selfish to giving to ourselves first. Remember, taking care of ourselves is not selfish, it's necessary.

So, what kind of self-care works for you?

Need some at home support with your self care and internal dialogues? Check out my range of self-care products.